Minnis to give clarification on Moultrie speech

While he remained mum on whether he believed House Speaker Halson Moultrie was wrong to make personal attacks from the chair, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said yesterday that he is not worried about Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Leader Philip Brave Davis’ plan to move a no confidence vote in the speaker.

“I am not concerned,” Minnis said following a nine-minute meeting of the House.

“Check the PLP’s record, this is normal for them. Every time they get beat they move a no confidence vote. Check the records.”

On January 31, as Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin stood and walked out the chamber Moultrie, who was addressing her, named and suspended her.

The following week, on February 7, he suspended Davis, Mangrove Cay and South Andros MP Picewell Forbes and Exumas and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper after they walked out the chamber during his address.

In that address, the speaker lambasted former House of Assembly Chief Clerk Maurice Tynes for criticizing him. Tynes, who retired last year, wrote a letter to the editor and took issue with the process in which Moultrie named and suspended Hanna-Martin.

Moultrie also intimated that his marriage was stronger than Davis’ because he was married to a real “indigenous Bahamian” woman and because he was never divorced.

Asked if he thought the speaker took it too far, Minnis said, “I would reserve that for Wednesday where I can expand and give complete clarification.”

Asked about his own naming and two suspensions under former House Speaker Dr. Kendal Major, Minnis said, “I follow the rules of the House. I was suspended so I followed the rules of the House.

“I am a man of law and order.”

Minnis was named and suspended in 2013 for failing to take back remarks he made about then Prime Minister Perry Christie’s relationship with fashion designer Peter Nygard.

Davis has written to House of Assembly Acting Chief Clerk David Forbes indicating that he or another member of the opposition will seek to move a vote of no confidence in the speaker because he is not fit to hold that office.

The opposition will move that motion when the House meets on Wednesday.